Hip fracture is the most common serious injury among adults, and current guidelines for prevention focus largely on taking calcium, vitamin D and a high protein diet. More than 75,000 people suffer hip fractures in the UK each year. With … Read More
Women can have peace of mind with safest mix of HRT in battle against dementia
Since its arrival, hormone replacement therapy has been controversial. Side effects such as thrombosis caused alarm and women to reject it. Then scares about breast cancer further eroded their confidence. Emanating from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), concerns … Read More
How much should we be worried about Covid post-vaccination heart problems?
The son of a friend of mine, a student aged 20, developed myocarditis after his first Covid jab. Should he have his second, his mum asked me. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, and any mention of a heart … Read More
The signs of gallstones can be so painful you may think you’re having a heart attack
Most won’t have symptoms or need treatment, but for some the pain is so severe it can be mistaken for a heart attack. So it’s vital to know what you’re dealing with and there are official new guidelines from NICE … Read More
Ground-breaking initiative aims to cut pandemic loneliness in older people
The loneliness suffered by the old and young alike during Covid lockdowns was painful and destructive. Particularly in care homes, it lasted a long time. Now, Leeds University has decided to try a new form of help for lonely people that could … Read More
Children exposed to different languages become GCSE superstars in all their subjects
Now here’s a weird one. Pupils who think of themselves as good at languages outperform their peers. And not just in French, German and Spanish but also in subjects such as maths, science and geography. And that’s the case whether … Read More
Child obesity is complex – you can’t end it by simply saying eat less
From the start to the end of primary school, the number of children living with obesity doubles. The latest data shows one fifth of children aged 10-11 in England live with the condition. However, the reasons why a child becomes … Read More
Study reveals what makes babies laugh and toilet humour leads to better mental health
Children laugh a lot given the chance. They find everything funny or silly or jokey. Truth is, laughing is good for them. Every time they giggle, their T cells spike. Yes, those protective T cells of the immune system. So, in a … Read More
Piano players with an extra robotic thumb prove the brain is amazing
The brain is amazing. It can learn new tricks and skills whatever the age. Just how clever it is was demonstrated by researchers at Imperial College, London, showing pianists can adapt to using an extra robotic thumb (11 fingers!) after … Read More
A breath of fresh air in fight against Covid transmission at hospitals
We’ve collected a lot of evidence showing that the Covid virus can be transmitted through the air in tiny droplets. And that applies to hospital wards as much as anywhere else, as most don’t have the tech to change the … Read More