Poor eyesight has been shown to hold children back in the classroom – but the right pair of glasses can reverse that and help foster a love of learning. Yet studies show youngsters from disadvantaged areas are less likely to … Read More
Austerity has made British people too worried about the future to start a family
Britain’s birth rates are plunging – the number of babies being born has been declining since 2017. In fact, the birth rate has been declining year on year since 2013 and is often linked to the 2008 global financial crisis and the … Read More
Stroke victims get a grip on arm weaknesses by playing games on device
After a stroke, rehabilitation is often slowed down by the cost and availability of occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Upper limb damage is the most common physical side effect of stroke, with 60% of survivors having persistent arm weakness. The key component … Read More
Tall tales and toxic tweets about e-cigarettes are stopping smokers quitting
Quitting smoking can be difficult, and it seems social media can make the process even tougher. Because even when we sense the health information we read online might not be true, we can still be guided by it. Researchers in Bristol … Read More
Scottish doctors can no longer sit on the fence on the question of assisted dying
Scotland leads the way in the UK on the question of assisted dying with a consultation happening now in the Scottish Parliament, while doctors thrash around getting no closer to a decision. The stance of many medics, who take a … Read More
Dose of sun early in pregnancy could lower risk of premature birth and disabilities
We are all desperate for a bit of sunshine, but for mums-to-be, a blast of rays could be a real life-changer. Because women who get more sunlight in their first trimester lessen their chances of having placenta problems linked to premature … Read More
New study could help children and young people suffering from long Covid
Long Covid is proving to be a widespread and persistent problem for sufferers. Now a new study from King’s College London reveals that long Covid isn’t just a condition of adults but can also affect children and young people. And … Read More
Unease over Covid booster jab as poorer countries still waiting for their first shot
A few weeks ago my husband and I obeyed the call and had our Covid booster jab. But I have a feeling of deep unease about vaccines being used for third doses when so many poorer nations haven’t started on their … Read More
Viagra isn’t just a benefit in bedroom- it’s also good for your heart’s health
Well, who’d have thought it? Viagra’s good for your heart! Besides treating sexual impotence, it strongly suppresses abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), which can cause palpitations, breathlessness, fainting and sometimes sudden death. The initial studies done in female sheep, showed the … Read More
Proof that shows teachers are not at greater risk of catching Covid in school
Teachers are not at greater risk of catching Covid in the classroom, an excellent study from New Zealand found earlier this year. But it’s taken us a while to catch up with this thinking – and there have been many … Read More