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Source: NHS News Feed
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Total 273 results found since Jan 2013.
Watch less TV to prevent obesity, says NICE
“Take TV-free days to combat obesity, health experts urge,” The Guardian reports. This is one of a range of new recommendations from National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) draft guidelines that are designed to help adults and children maintain a healthy weight.Although the headlines have largely focused on TV (as well as other types of screen time, such as smartphones), the recommendations cover a range of health-related behaviours, such as walking to work and avoiding fizzy drinks.This draft guidance is mainly aimed at people in organisations who set up, pay for, or put into practice programmes that ...
Source: NHS News Feed - September 23, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise Food/diet Obesity Source Type: news
Benefits of statins 'outweigh diabetes risk'
ConclusionThe results of these updated meta-analyses indicate that statin use is associated with a 12% increase in risk of type 2 diabetes and also weight gain of half a pound over the course of four years. This confirms the findings of the previous meta-analysis of the effect on diabetes, and adds new findings for weight.The main meta-analyses in this study attempted to address how statins might have this effect. They found that people who have genetic variations in the gene encoding the protein HMGCR that is targeted by statins, have lower LDL (bad) cholesterol but also increased levels of insulin, blood sugar, body weig...
Source: NHS News Feed - September 24, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Diabetes Heart/lungs Medication Source Type: news
Could curry spice boost brain cell repair?
ConclusionThis laboratory and animal research has found that an extract from turmeric (aromatic turmerone) seems to increase the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). However, this research is in the very early stages. So far, the extract has only been added to brain stem cells in the laboratory, or directly injected into the brains of only three rats. Though NSCs have some ability to regenerate brain cells after damage, this is usually not enough to have an effect in degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The hope is that by boosting the number of NSCs, they could be more effective at repairi...
Source: NHS News Feed - September 26, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Neurology Source Type: news
Cherry juice touted as treatment for gout
ConclusionThis small study found that drinking tart cherry juice twice a day temporarily lowered the blood uric acid levels of 12 young healthy volunteers without gout, up to eight hours after they consumed the drink. The levels began to increase back to the starting levels after 24-48 hours. The researchers and media extrapolated this finding to mean that the drink may be useful for gout, which is caused by an excess accumulation of uric acid crystals.Based on this study alone, we cannot say that drinking cherry juice helps prevent the onset of gout, or the recurrence of gout in those who have had it before. The study did...
Source: NHS News Feed - September 29, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Medication Source Type: news
Green tea compound may improve cancer drugs
Conclusion
This study developed a new way of packaging and carrying protein drugs by combining them with a green tea extract called Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), which itself may have anti-cancer properties.
They formed a complex between derivatives of EGCG and the protein cancer drug Herceptin. Tests in the laboratory and in mice indicated it might have better anti-cancer properties than non-complexed free Herceptin.
This is encouraging research and may lead to improvements in delivery mechanisms for protein drugs further down the line.
But this research remains at a very early stage of development. The results f...
Source: NHS News Feed - October 6, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer Medication Source Type: news
Fruit juice link to high blood pressure not proven
ConclusionThis cross-sectional study found a link between regular fruit juice consumption and slightly increased central blood pressure in a group of 130 largely healthy 50 to 70 year olds. People who drank juice daily had a systolic pressure (the upper figure) 3 to 4mmHg higher than those who drank juice rarely or occasionally.However, when measuring the blood pressure in the standard way, using an inflatable cuff around the arm, there was no link. The media reports focus on the possibility that the slight raise in blood pressure could increase a person's risk of a variety of blood pressure-related complications. But it...
Source: NHS News Feed - October 13, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Food/diet Source Type: news
Viagra could double up as heart failure drug
ConclusionThis systematic review of 24 RCTs indicated PDE5is were more effective than placebos at improving specific measures of heart health and were broadly safe.PDE5is lower blood pressure, so these drugs are currently contraindicated or used with caution in people with cardiovascular disease, including those with low blood pressure and a history of stroke or heart attack, as the effects are unknown. However, various research studies have continued to investigate the possibility that these drugs could have a beneficial effect on heart function. This review has looked into their effect on cardiovascular outcomes further ...
Source: NHS News Feed - October 20, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medication Source Type: news
Have antibiotic changes upped heart infections?
Conclusion
This is valuable and timely research, which has looked at trends before and after NICE's 2008 guidance on the prevention of infective endocarditis in people undergoing invasive procedures. This examined:
changes in the prescription of antibiotics for the prevention of infective endocarditis
changes in the number of cases of infective endocarditis diagnosed
NICE's recommendation was based on an examination of the evidence of the effectiveness of antibiotics in preventing infective endocarditis, weighing the benefits and health outcomes (such as reduction in illness and deaths), risks and costs.
The ...
Source: NHS News Feed - November 19, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medical practice Source Type: news
Ten-point plan to tackle liver disease published
"Doctors call for tougher laws on alcohol abuse to tackle liver disease crisis," The Guardian reports. But this is just one of 10 recommendations for tackling the burden of liver disease published in a special report in The Lancet.The report paints a grim picture of an emerging crisis in liver disease in the UK, saying it is one of the few countries in Europe where liver disease and deaths have actually increased rapidly over the last 30 years. It concludes with 10 recommendations to tackle the burden of liver disease.The media has approached the recommendations from many different angles, with many sources only ...
Source: NHS News Feed - November 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Lifestyle/exercise QA articles Source Type: news
Drug found to help repair spinal cord injuries
ConclusionThis exciting piece of research has found that the immediate treatment of spinal cord injuries using a newly-developed molecule can improve nerve regeneration, leading to some functional recovery in rats. The drug appears to work by disrupting the unhealthy pattern of scar tissue that develops and usually stops nerves from growing and lengthening, instead forming tight knots.The tests performed on rats appear to show that injections of the drug following a spinal cord injury led to improved bladder function, walking ability and balance.The researchers report that the rats did not develop neuropathic pain, which o...
Source: NHS News Feed - December 4, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Neurology Source Type: news
Text alerts 'help prompt people to take their pills'
Conclusion
This randomised study found a text messaging reminder service led to more people taking medication as prescribed.
It appears this was because not taking the medication or not responding to the text led to a discussion with a healthcare professional, which influenced people to continue taking their medicines.
The study was clearly reported and was of adequate size to find a difference between the two groups, if there was one. But, as with all studies, there are some limitations to consider.
The results of the study may not be applicable to everyone. The recruitment process meant the participants were already ...
Source: NHS News Feed - December 8, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Medication Heart/lungs Source Type: news
Wholegrains, not just porridge, may increase life
Conclusion
This analysis of two large prospective cohort studies from the US has found an association between higher wholegrain intake and a reduced risk of death during follow-up, particularly from heart disease.
The study benefits from its large size (more than 100,000 participants) and long duration, as well as the thorough collection of information on the participants as the study progressed (prospective data collection).
Our diets and lifestyles are very complex, and it is very difficult to entirely isolate the effect of one dietary component and remove the effect of all other factors.
However, the researchers have ...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 6, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Food/diet Source Type: news
Does moderate boozing reduce heart failure risk?
Conclusion
This study suggests drinking up to about 12 UK units a week is associated with a lower risk of heart failure in men compared with never drinking alcohol.
There was a similar result for women, but the results were not as robust and did not rule out the possibility of there being no difference.
The study benefits from its large size (more than 14,000 people) and the fact it collected its data prospectively over a long period of time.
However, studying the impact of alcohol on outcomes is fraught with difficulty. These difficulties include people not being entirely sure what a "drink" or a "unit&q...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 21, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Food/diet Source Type: news
Becoming healthier may motivate your partner to join in
Conclusion
This cohort study has found that individuals with unhealthy behaviours such as smoking, being inactive or being overweight are most likely to change these behaviours if their unhealthy partner also changes these behaviours.
Having a partner who has consistently healthy behaviours was also associated with a greater likelihood of change in smoking and activity compared to a consistently unhealthy partner, but less so than having a partner who changed behaviour.
There were some limitations to the study, including that:
The study took into account some confounders, such as age and some health conditions, but oth...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 20, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise Food/diet Source Type: news
Does moderate drinking reduce heart failure risk?
Conclusion
This study suggests drinking up to about 12 UK units a week is associated with a lower risk of heart failure in men compared with never drinking alcohol.
There was a similar result for women, but the results were not as robust and did not rule out the possibility of there being no difference.
The study benefits from its large size (more than 14,000 people) and the fact it collected its data prospectively over a long period of time.
However, studying the impact of alcohol on outcomes is fraught with difficulty. These difficulties include people not being entirely sure what a "drink" or a "unit&q...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 20, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Food/diet Source Type: news
