No one knows what causes premature births, and it is the biggest killer of babies in the UK with nearly 1,400 dying every year. However, scientists now think infection in pregnant women could increase the risk of a baby being born … Read More
It’s good riddance to breastfeeding bullies with new Royal College of Midwives announcement
At last! Mums are free to feed their babies how they please without fear of criticism. I don’t know which I feel more, anger or relief, at the announcement from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) that mothers who choose … Read More
The war on drugs is a fight we just can’t win
To my mind, criminalisation of illegal drugs is inhumane and counterproductive. The “war on drugs” hasn’t and doesn’t work. It’s high time we shifted our focus from criminal punishment to public health. If this offends your ideology I should tell you that … Read More
Taking pills for too long is bad for your health and could lead to dementia
As people get older they find themselves prey to the many disorders that come with age. Their stock of drugs expands till they’re taking handfuls of pills every day. This has its own hazards but a new report in the … Read More
Here’s the secret of how you can eat lots – and still lose weight
Is this promise the Holy Grail for dieters? Eat as much as you want and still keep on losing weight? Can you believe it – after all these years of gurus advocating abstinence in some form or another? Leeds University … Read More
Prostate cancer can be spotted with new non-invasive ultrasound test
At last – scientists have created a highly accurate and reliable technique for diagnosing prostate cancer. The Dundee University-based team says it has used a kind of ultrasound called “shear wave elastography” (SWE) to detect prostate tumours accurately. The method is … Read More
At last, GPs have been given guidance about Lyme disease
This is a subject I’ve written about several times over the years. I know it well because my sister and a female friend suffered nasty bouts of it. Lyme disease can be a horrible bacterial condition, contracted from a tick bite, … Read More
Study proves dieting CAN reverse diabetes – as chronic calorie excess causes the disease
ou could cure your Type 2 diabetes if you follow new advice from your GP. Around four million UK patients with the condition might be helped – they could go into remission and even come off drugs. A wonderful study, … Read More
It’s getting harder to be guilt-free if you like a drink
The new study, published in The Lancet, has data from 599,912 drinkers taken from 83 studies in 19 affluent countries. The sobering finding is a rise in all causes of death if you drink more than 100g of alcohol a … Read More
Don’t let any illness stop you going away on holiday
We know from TV ads that it’s a simple matter to get insurance cover for a holiday abroad if you have medical conditions. But what can you do yourself to keep yourself safe? There are several aspects to this including your medication, your … Read More