2017 marks 200 years since Parkinson’s was identified as a health condition by Dr James Parkinson (1755-1824.) The London Doctor recognised that the progressive neurological disease affects an individual’s actions to talk, walk and write. Today, Parkinson’s disease impacts over 1.2 million lives across Europe and European Parkinson’s disease association aims to raise awareness, promoting … [Read more…]
Experts claim that the benefits outweigh the risks Researchers from the University College London team have disagreed with World Health Organisation (WHO) advice about the use of e-cigarettes, claiming current recommendations are alarmist when the devices could save lives. The health experts explained that for every million smokers who switch to e-cigarettes, more than 6,000 … [Read more…]
Study shows that food addictions can be changed Scientists from Tufts University have found that the brain can be trained to prefer healthy food over unhealthy and high calorie junk food, using a diet that does not leave people hungry. The team scanned the part of the brain linked to reward and addiction in 13 overweight … [Read more…]
Organ transplant alternatives could be available in the future Scottish researchers have grown a whole, functional organ from scratch inside of an animal for the very first time. Genetically reprogrammed cells formed into a thymus – a critical part of the immune system – once transplanted into mice with other support role cells. The thymus is … [Read more…]
Are new drugs effective or hazardous? Researchers have discovered that new prescription drugs have a one in five chance of causing serious reactions after they have been approved, with systematical reviews revealing that 1.9 million hospitalisations a year are attributed to using new medication. The Harvard Law report explained that 840,000 patients given new drugs … [Read more…]
Doctors are notorious for being labelled as ‘bad’ patients – delaying seeing their GP and presenting late for treatment are just a couple of key examples. Mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, addiction and even suicide in extreme cases, are becoming increasingly common among medics, with female doctors two and a half times more likely to … [Read more…]
Up to 43% of doctors could suffer psychological problems after incidents A recent investigation by leading healthcare experts reveals that doctors can be defined as the ‘second victim’ – clinicians who are traumatised by an adverse patient event, with professionals suffering distress similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. With such incidents affecting both the personal and professional lives of … [Read more…]
DNA project aims to put UK on the map as research experts A new project that strives to revolutionise medicine by studying DNA is now underway in centres across England. By analysing genomes – the building blocks of DNA – scientists hope to help create targeted therapies for every area of medicine, covering everything from … [Read more…]
New study shows that more than five portions has no extra benefits The latest research supports the advantages of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, however it also suggests that eating additional portions may have no added benefits. Experts reported in the BMJ after an analysis of 16 international studies, that for … [Read more…]
Results could help combat chronic illnesses Scientists have uncovered a previously unknown virus called CrAssphage, that is found in the human gut. The study, published in Nature Communications, explained that the virus could impact the behaviour of the most common bacteria in our guts, with experts also revealing that these types of viruses, called bacteriophages, have been … [Read more…]