Asthma

Severity of asthma attacks may be reduced with vitamin D supplements

4 Oct 2017

Adding vitamin D supplements to standard medication could reduce the severity of asthma attacks for individuals with the respiratory condition, suggests a new review. Researchers found that people...

Regular sauna use could reduce men's hypertension risk

2 Oct 2017 • 1 comment

Sauna bathing may be more than just a relaxing pastime; a new study finds that regular sauna use could almost halve men's risk of developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension,...

Including exercise in everyday life healthier than gym, says study

22 Sep 2017

Incorporating physical activity into our everyday lives, from taking the stairs to holding “walkaround” meetings in the office, is more likely to protect us from heart disease and an early death...

Should you finish a course of antibiotics?

2 Aug 2017 • 6 comments

It is time to reconsider the widespread advice that people should always complete an entire course of antibiotics, experts in the BMJ say. They argue there is not enough evidence to back the idea...

Asthma

Steroids may do more harm than good in some cases of severe asthma

12 Jul 2017 • 4 comments

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and UPMC have uncovered the molecular mechanism underlying corticosteroid resistance in severe asthma. The new findings...

Art boosts long-term mental health - new study

12 Jul 2017 • 1 comment

Taking part in art classes can improve mental health and enhance social inclusion over a prolonged period, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Mental Health Promotion.An...

Cardiovascular diseases

Coffee cuts risk of dying from stroke and heart disease, study suggests

12 Jul 2017 • 1 comment

People who drink coffee have a lower risk of dying from a host of causes, including heart disease, stroke and liver disease, research suggests – but experts say it’s unclear whether the health...

Owning a dog may encourage older people to exercise

16 Jun 2017

Doctors should ‘prescribe’ dogs to old people to help them stay active in their retirement, a study has advised.Researchers made the recommendation after finding dog owners got much more exercise...

Cancer

'Everyday chemicals' linked to cancer

16 Jun 2017

"Chemicals in everyday items like cosmetics linked to cancer," The Independent reports. Research involving genetically engineered human cells found that a class of chemical called aldehydes damaged a...

Breast cancer

High blood platelet count 'as good a cancer predictor as a lump in the breast'

2 Jun 2017 • 1 comment

Common blood tests could help diagnose cancer early even in patients that show no other symptoms, study findsA common blood test could help diagnose cancer earlier, according to research suggesting a...

Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture May Help Ease Fibromyalgia Pain, Study Finds

22 May 2017 • 1 comment

Acupuncture may help ease pain and improve quality of life for people with fibromyalgia, a new study suggests.Ten weeks after treatment, the pain scores of patients given acupuncture dropped an...

Cardiovascular diseases

'Heart attack risk' for common painkillers

22 May 2017 • 10 comments

A fresh study suggests there may be a link between taking high doses of common anti-inflammatory painkillers - such as ibuprofen - and heart attacks.The paper, published in The BMJ, builds on a...