Our Team

Most of the UK media is covering the announcement made in Parliament by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, about proposed changes to social care.

The two confirmed points to have garnered the most media attention in the run-up to the announcement are:

• a ‘cost cap’ of £75,000 worth of care costs – after this...

"Adults who booze regularly but exercise for five hours a week are no more likely to die than teetotallers," the Mail Online reports.

A study suggests exercise may compensate for some, but certainly not all, of the harms associated with excessive alcohol consumption. This latest study looked at deaths from...

"Taking paracetamol when pregnant 'makes boys less manly, less aggressive and lowers their sex drive'," reports The Sun.

But the alarming headline doesn't explain that the research was in mice, not humans.

Researchers gave daily doses of paracetamol to pregnant mice, and looked into the effect on their male...

"Sex is the key to staying sharp in old age," reports the Mail Online after researchers found older people who have regular sex scored better on two of five brain tests.

Participants who had sex at least once a week scored higher on tests that measured their verbal fluency and spatial awareness compared with those who had...

"Toxic fumes in aircraft cabins could cause serious health problems, scientists warn," reports The Sun. This is based on a UK study investigating air contamination on aircraft and its possible effects on the health of pilots and cabin crew.

The researchers say the air supply on planes can become contaminated by leaks of oil...

"Cholesterol-lowering jab to help prevent heart disease," reports BBC Online.

The headline refers to a recent mouse study that aimed to see whether a new vaccine could reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.

Mice bred to develop heart and vascular disease were given the AT04A vaccine or a control...

"Prostate cancer blood test helps target treatment," BBC News reports.

A study found a blood test could detect which men with advanced prostate cancer would benefit from new drug treatment.

Researchers analysed blood samples from nearly 50 men taking part in a trial of a new drug (olaparib) for prostate cancer that...

"Just three mutations are needed to make bird flu a potential pandemic strain that could kill millions," is the alarming headline from the Mail Online. However, the chance of all three mutations occurring has been described as "relatively low".

...

"Women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have a baby with serious birth defects," The Guardian reports.

Swedish researchers looked at more than a million health records and found a link between excess body mass index (BMI) and...

"Dieters who follow a vegetarian eating plan lose nearly twice as much weight," the Daily Mail reports following the results of a new study.

Researchers randomly assigned two groups of people with type 2 diabetes to either a vegetarian diet or a standard weight loss diet. They found those on the vegetarian diet lost more...

"People over 75 taking daily aspirin after a stroke or heart attack are at higher risk of major – and sometimes fatal – stomach bleeds than previously thought," BBC News reports.

Aspirin can help thin the blood, so it is...

"Four million people died in 2015 as a result of being too tubby, struck by cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other killer conditions," reports The Sun.

This is based on a global study that looked at how the proportion of people who are overweight and obese has changed over time. This was determined by recording ...

"Vitamin C and antibiotics could be up to 100 times more effective than drugs at killing cancer cells – without the side effects," reports the Mail Online.

The news comes from the results of a study that found a new two-pronged approach using the antibiotic doxycycline followed by...

"NHS should prescribe dogs to keep over-65s fit," the Daily Mail reports.

The headline was prompted by the results of a new study with the rather unsurprising finding that older adults who own dogs walk more than those who don't.

The study included around 80 adults with an average age of 70 from three regions in...

"An egg a day appears to help young children grow taller," BBC News reports.

Research involving young children in Ecuador found babies given one egg a day for six months had improved growth compared with controls, as well as a reduced risk of stunted growth.

Stunted growth is when a child fails to meet the...

"Sliced white bread is 'just as healthy as brown', shock findings reveal," The Sun reports.

A small study looking at the effects of eating different types of bread – white versus brown sourdough – found no significant differences.

But the researchers also reported responses varied from person to person, depending...

"Even moderate drinking can damage the brain," The Guardian reports. A new study, involving brain scans and cognitive testing, suggests that moderate drinking, over many years, could damage areas of the brain linked to memory and cognitive function.

The results showed that the higher the amount of alcohol consumed a week,...

"Babies moved into their own room at six months sleep better and are lower risk of obesity, poor sleep patterns and tantrums," reports The Sun.

This is based on a US study looking at room-sharing of 230 mother-infant pairs and infant sleep patterns.

However, despite the headlines, the study did not look at babies'...

"Children who have TVs in their bedrooms are more likely to be overweight than those who do not," BBC News reports. A UK study found a link between children having a TV in their room and an increased risk of obesity.

Researchers followed children...

"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 gene that prevents cancer from developing.

Aldehydes are organic chemical compounds naturally present in the environment and...

"Antibacterial handwash is NO better than soap – and cold water kills as many germs as hot, experts claim," The Sun reports.

These were the main findings of a study looking at various methods of handwashing.

But the researchers only tested for...

"Stressed mothers-to-be face an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will develop ADHD or heart disease later in life," the Mail Online reports.

However, the new study it is reporting on did not look at long-term outcomes in children, such as ...

"Is our smartphone addiction damaging our children?," The Guardian asks, after publication of a recent study into "technoference" – when people switch their attention away from others to check their phone or tablet.

The study, carried out in the US, involved more than 300 parents who reported on their use of...

"Many patients given beta blockers after a heart attack may not benefit from being on the drugs, suggesting they may be being overprescribed," The Guardian reports.

Beta-blockers are drugs used to regulate the heart by making it beat more...

"Fitness trackers out of step when measuring calories, research shows," The Guardian reports. An independent analysis of a number of leading brands found they were all prone to inaccurate recording of energy expenditure.

Researchers recruited 60 participants to take part in a range of exercises while having their heart rate...

"Meditation can leave you feeling even more stressed," the Daily Mail reports.

The claim is prompted by a study of 60 practitioners of Buddhist meditation in the US which found they'd had a range of "challenging or difficult" experiences associated with the practice.

However, it's not clear how relevant...

"A pot belly is a red flag for cancer," reports the Mail Online after a new study found an increase in waist circumference carries similar risks for developing cancer as raised body mass index (BMI).

The study used data from several European studies of more than 43,000 adults aged around 63, who were then followed up for 12...

"Regularly tucking into a bar of chocolate may actually be good for us," reports the Mail Online.

Researchers in Denmark say people who eat chocolate one to six times a week are less likely to get a heart condition called atrial fibrillation than those who eat it hardly at all (less than once a month).

...

"Just half a glass of wine a day ups the risk of breast cancer by nine per cent, experts warn," The Sun reports. A major report looking at global evidence found that drinking just 10g of alcohol a day – 1.25 units – was linked to an increased risk of...

"Simple saliva test for dementia 'shows promise' in bid to diagnose the disease early," the Daily Mirror reports.

This news is based on a laboratory study that took saliva samples from 12 healthy adults, nine adults with Alzheimer’s disease...

"Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people's mental health, a UK survey suggests," BBC News reports.

The survey asked 1,479 young people aged 14-24 to score popular social media apps on issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying, body image and "...

"Swallowable gastric balloon could help the obese lose weight without surgery," The Guardian reports. The news, which was widely reported, is based on a study presented at the European Congress of Obesity in Portugal.

Researchers in Italy found obese patients who used a swallowable gastric balloon lost on average about 15kg...

"The idea that people can be fat but medically fit is a myth," reports BBC News.

The story is based on research from scientists at the University of Birmingham, reported at a medical conference but not yet published.

The researchers used information from a UK database of GP records covering 3.5 million people, to...

"A couple of bad nights is enough to make a person look 'significantly' more ugly," reports BBC News.

Researchers in Sweden found people rated photographs of strangers as less attractive and healthy when the people in the photographs had less sleep.

The study used photographs of healthy, mainly young, students...

"Forget Plan B – try aloe vera, controversial study claims: Scientists insist pills made from dandelions and mangoes can prevent pregnancy without a hit of hormones," reports the Mail Online.

The news is based on a study investigating whether chemicals found in certain plants can reduce sperm's ability to fertilise a woman'...

“Fizzy water could cause obesity by encouraging you to eat more,” The Daily Telegraph reports.

Researchers aimed to see whether it could be the carbonation in soft drinks – rather than the sugar – that explains the link between soft drinks and obesity.

Overall, they found rats that drank diet or regular fizzy drinks ate...

“Fizzy water could cause obesity by encouraging you to eat more,” The Daily Telegraph reports.

Researchers aimed to see whether it could be the carbonation in soft drinks – rather than the sugar – that explains the link between soft drinks and obesity.

Overall, they found rats that drank diet or regular fizzy drinks ate...

"Keyhole knee surgery for arthritis pain 'is pointless'," the Daily Mail reports.

The headline is prompted by a review of the available evidence around knee arthroscopy (keyhole) procedures for people with degenerative knee conditions such as...

"Yoga can ease depression symptoms, according to the largest study to ever investigate the link," the Mail Online reports.

The study didn't find any benefits from doing yoga at the end of the 10-week study period, but there were improvements in symptoms at a six-month follow-up review. Because of the mixed results, these...

"Young people on the latest HIV drugs now have near-normal life expectancy because of improvements in treatments," BBC News reports.

The report says advances in antiretroviral drug treatments reduce the risks of serious complications.

Researchers used data from 88,504 people with HIV from Europe and North America...

"Taking painkillers for just one week 'raises the risk of a heart attack'," the Daily Mail reports. The report is based on a new analysis that found a link between anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and...

"Eating cheese does not raise risk of heart attack or stroke," reports The Guardian. This follows a large review pooling the results of 29 observational studies into the link between dairy consumption and cardiovascular disease; coronary heart disease, as well as all-cause deaths.

The studies included almost 1 million...

"Scientists studying cancer stumble on 'breakthrough' in search for baldness cure," announces The Daily Telegraph, adding that not only does this mean "a cream or ointment may soon cure baldness or stop hair turning grey" but also it could one day ... explain why we age".

Sadly for those of us with grey, or...

"Almost half of baby rice food products contain illegal levels of inorganic arsenic despite new regulations set by the EU, according to researchers," ITV News reports.

While this may sound shocking, arsenic is a common chemical compound naturally present in the environment.

It's found at very low levels in tap...

"A blood test has been developed that could help target treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer," BBC News reports. The test could help identify men unlikely to respond to drugs such as enzalutamide.

Enzalutamide and abiraterone are additional treatments for men for whom standard hormonal treatment has not worked,...

"Gluten-free diet can do more harm than good for people without coeliac disease," The Independent reports, as a new study found that the "trendy gluten-free diets loved by Gwyneth Paltrow and Russell Crowe may increase the risk of heart disease".

Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye....

"Side effects from statins 'really are all in the mind'," The Times reports. A new study found people taking statins were more likely to report side effects, such as muscle aches, but only if they knew they were taking the drug...

"Fasting diets do not make much difference to weight loss compared to a traditional calorie-controlled diet," The Daily Telegraph reports.

A study found people on an "every other day" diet (where they restricted their calorie intake to around 500 calories every other day) lost no more weight than those on a normal...

"Smoking in pregnancy hurts your grandkids by 'increasing their risk of autism'," The Sun brashly reports.

Researchers looked at data spanning multiple generations and reported a link between girls with autism symptoms and having a...

"Why Oktoberfest could be damaging your heart" is the somewhat strange headline in The Times.

Researchers who attended the annual Bavarian beer and folk festival found binge drinkers were more likely to have abnormal heart rhythm patterns.

This could be of potential concern – in extreme cases, abnormal heart...

"It might be possible to treat the main cause of permanent blindness before people notice any loss of vision," BBC News report.

A proof of concept study of early testing for glaucoma – the most common cause of sight loss – had promising results.

In...

"Doing moderate exercise several times a week is the best way to keep the mind sharp if you're over 50," BBC News reports.

A review of existing data found both aerobic exercise and strength training appeared to improve cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and how well people carry out tasks. 

The review...

"Drinking up to four cups of coffee a day carries no health risk, experts say. Scientists said those who stick to that limit have no need to worry," reports The Sun.

This was based on a review of studies that looked at the effects of caffeine on health. The researchers specifically investigated the effect of having more or...

"Regular bedtimes make children less likely to be obese as adults," is the slightly misleading Mail Online headline. This follows a study looking at the link between household routines in early childhood and obesity at age 11.

Researchers analysed...

"Diet drinks triple your risk of stroke and dementia," the Daily Mail reports, as US research found a link between daily intake and increased risk. However, the chain of evidence is not as strong as reported.

The researchers analysed data from an ongoing US cohort study to see if consumption of sugar or artificially...

"Want to live longer? Reduce your risk of cancer? And heart disease? Then cycle to work," BBC News advises, prompted by a new study that found UK commuters who cycled to work had lower rates of cancer and heart disease, compared to other types of commuters.

The study was well designed as it included more than 200,000 adults...

"Depression and cancer drugs offer hope for dementia sufferers," Sky News reports. The headline is prompted by a study looking at the effect of two drugs – one used to treat depression and another being trialled for cancer treatment – on neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions that cause...

"'Potent' new molecule in frog slime may give us new way to beat flu epidemics, say boffins," The Sun reports.

Researchers looked at secretions from the skin of a south Indian frog called Hydrophylax bahuvistara. They found it contained a peptide (a short chain of amino acids) which could kill certain flu viruses in the lab...

"'Touchscreen-toddlers' sleep less," BBC News report. Results from a survey of UK parents suggest every hour a child spends using a touchscreen device was associated with an hour's less sleep a night.

Reports such as this are likely to cause concern to many parents, as touchscreen devices, such as smartphones and tablets,...

"People who are too fat or too thin are 'more likely to suffer from migraines'," reports The Sun.

Researchers reviewed data from 12 studies involving 288,981 people and concluded obese people have a 21% increased risk of migraines, compared to those of healthy weight.

...

"Do you have a tattoo? You may be at-risk of heat stroke as inked skin produces significantly less sweat than normal," the Mail Online reports.

A small US study, involving 10 men, found tattooed skin produced less sweat, which could lead to over-heating.

The drug pilocarpine was used to induce sweating on the...

"Eating fresh fruit daily could cut risk of diabetes by 12%," the Mail Online reports.

A study of half a million people in China found those who ate fruit daily were 12% less likely to get type 2 diabetes than those who never or rarely ate it...

"New technique in which brain cells are reprogrammed could one day provide a cure for Parkinson's disease," The Independent reports.

Researchers, using mice with Parkinson's disease, "reprogrammed" cells to replace the nerves lost in the condition. These nerves produce the messenger chemical dopamine, and help to...

"Having a pet dog…can help reduce the child's chances of developing allergies and becoming obese in later years," claims the Daily Mirror, in a somewhat misleading report.

Researchers did find a link between pet ownership and an increased diversity of "healthy bacteria" in infants, but didn't look at long-term...

"It's tea time! How at least two cups a day can shield you from dementia," reports the Mail Online. This rather optimistic headline reports on a Singaporean study of around 900 Chinese people aged 55 and above.

The study searched for a potential link between tea consumption and development of dementia. It found the risks of...

"Taking antibiotics for more than two weeks increases your risk of bowel cancer by 73 per cent," reports the Daily Mail.

However, the study it reports on did not look at rates of bowel cancer. What it did find is an...

"A daily slice of Marmite on toast may help prevent you getting dementia," the Daily Mail reports, with little justification.

A small study did find that Marmite had an effect on electrical activity in the brain, but there is no evidence this would prevent dementia.

The study involved 28 people in their early 20s....

"Working in hot temperatures increases the risk of suffering a heart attack," BBC News reports.

It has been known for some time that the leading cause of death amongst serving firefighters is heart attacks and not fire-related injuries as some...

"Babies in Britain, Canada and Italy cry more than elsewhere," The Guardian reports. But the review the newspaper is reporting on only found reliable data from a handful of nations so the accuracy of the claim is unclear.

Researchers looked at previously gathered data on colic patterns. ...

"Women who take morning-after pill could still fall pregnant if they weigh more than 11 stone," the Daily Mirror warns.

New guidelines on emergency contraception discuss recent evidence that body mass index (BMI) and overall...

"A daily pint or glass of wine can slash the chances of a suffering heart attack by a third," reports The Sun.

Researchers found that people who drank alcohol within moderate drinking guidelines were less likely to have a first episode of a range of heart and vascular diseases than those who never drank alcohol.

This...

"Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could be a risky combination, leading to a greater risk of accidents and injuries," BBC News report.

A review of evidence found a number of potential risks, but the picture was not as clear-cut as reported.

Energy drinks are drinks that contain high amounts of caffeine. Some people...

"The pill can protect women from cancer for 30 years," is the front page headline in the Daily Mirror.

The paper reports on a landmark study that followed more than 46,000 women in the UK for up to 44 years.

The study found women who'd used the ...

"Men who are overweight in their late teens have a higher risk of developing liver cancer in later life, new research suggests," reports ITV News. Swedish researchers also found a link to other serious types of liver disease.

The researchers...

"The cholesterol drug that outperforms statins: Patients on the medication are '27% less likely to suffer a heart attack'," the Daily Mail reports.

The drug, evolocumab, makes the liver more effective at removing "bad" cholesterol from the blood.

But the Mail's headline is somewhat misleading, as evolocumab...

"Grandmas are usually the first to spot autism in children," the Mail Online reports.

The headline was prompted by a US online survey of parents and family members of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Researchers...

"Taking yoga classes can help ease depressive symptoms, a new study says," reports the Mail Online.

A small study from the US found yoga was associated with a clinically significant improvement in depression symptoms.

Researchers recruited 32 people...

"Taking common painkillers like ibuprofen 'increases your risk of cardiac arrest by a THIRD'," The Sun reports.

Researchers found a link between the potentially fatal heart problem and ibuprofen use, as well as another type of ...

"Up to one in five women with breast cancer could benefit from a type of treatment currently only given to patients with a rare form of the disease," The Independent reports.

Research suggests around 20% of women with breast cancer...

"Children who are allowed more than three hours of screentime a day are at greater risk of developing diabetes," The Guardian reports.

In a new study, UK researchers found a link between three hours or more of screen time and risk factors for type...

"Children who are allowed more than three hours of screentime a day are at greater risk of developing diabetes," The Guardian reports.

In a new study, UK researchers found a link between three hours or more of screen time and risk factors for type...

"Men who take this drug [finasteride] to combat baldness are 'five times more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction'," The Sun reports.

While this may sound hair-raising, the actual evidence the paper is reporting on is not a major cause for concern.

This US study looked at a medical records database to see how common...

"Parents warned to use pram covers to protect babies from air pollution," reports The Daily Telegraph.

The advice is prompted by a UK study where researchers simulated a normal walk to school in Guildford, involving parents pushing a pram or carrying a younger child in their arms while accompanying an older child to school....

"Dementia breakthrough: Brushing your teeth 'can help ward off devastating condition'," reads the Daily Express.

The news is based on a study that found tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of dementia.

The study involved...

"Red wine can 'help fight the ageing process' – but how much would you have to drink?," is the question posed by The Sun, after a US study suggested resveratrol, a substance found in the skin of red grapes, may help keep our muscles and nerves healthy as we get older.

But the story might also ask "and are you a mouse?...

"Eating a Mediterranean diet 'cuts deadly breast cancer risk by 40%' in postmenopausal women," says the Mail Online of a widely reported study carried out by researchers in the Netherlands.

The researchers looked at data from a study involving more than 60,000 women aged 55-69 over a 20-year period.

At the start of...

"Redheads are more likely to develop Parkinson's," claims the Mail Online after a study found the gene that makes people with red hair susceptible to skin cancer also increases the risk of brain disease.

But the study didn't actually look directly at redheads (human ones, anyway). Instead, it used mice to look at whether a...