June - 2018

Over 40s health check to include dementia advice

People over 40 in England will be given advice on dementia as part of their free NHS health check. Guidance on how to reduce the risk of dementia will be given to patients at GP surgeries and through community health programmes. Public Health England (PHE) said up to one-third of dementia cases could be improved through lifestyle choices. But its says 28% of people have no awareness of risk factors and only 2% know what they can do to reduce them. The planned roll-out follows

Tea towels 'can cause food poisoning'

Multi-use of tea towels is putting households at risk of food poisoning, research suggests. Scientists from the University of Mauritius examined 100 towels that had been used for a month. They found E.coli was more likely to be found on towels used for multiple jobs, such as wiping utensils and cleaning surfaces, as well as drying hands. It was also more likely to be found on damp towels or those in households where meat was eaten. Multiple use increases the chance of cross-c

Holidaymakers warned to check travel advice on medicines

Holidaymakers are being warned to check the rules on carrying medicines abroad to avoid falling foul of local laws. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said some commonly-prescribed medicines were "controlled drugs" in certain countries. In Japan, some cold remedies are banned while some sleeping pills require a licence in Singapore. Travellers could risk a fine or even imprisonment if they break the rules, the FCO said. The Foreign Office said it was becoming more popu

Why beige carbs are the ones to avoid

Low-carb diets have been around for a while. But did you know the colour of the carbs you eat also matters - and as Dr Xand van Tulleken explains, it's the beige ones you really have to watch out for. Dr Faisal Maassarani is on a mission. The GP, from Kirkby, on Merseyside, wants to get his patients to eat fewer carbs and thereby improve their health. But there are a huge number of obstacles for Dr Maassarani. He works in one of the poorest regions of the country, with high u

World Cup fans advised to get MMR jab

Football fans travelling to Russia for the World Cup should ensure they are up-to-date with their MMR jab, Public Health England has advised. It follows ongoing large measles outbreaks in Europe. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be fatal. The Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine is given in two doses, typically in childhood. In 2017, measles outbreaks affected more than 20,000 people in Europe, leading to 35 deaths. Cases were highest in Romania, Italy and

Prostate cancer immune system drug results could be 'spectacular'

Drugs that boost the immune system have saved the lives of some men with terminal prostate cancer, say doctors in the UK. The team at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London said the results were "spectacular" and a "big deal". However, the therapy will not work for most patients. Cancer Research UK said the next step was to predict who would respond. Immunotherapy is transforming the treatment of cancer and is now part of routine practice fo

Breast cancer: Test means fewer women will need chemotherapy

About 70% of women with the most common form of early stage breast cancer can be spared the "agony of chemotherapy", researchers say. It follows trials of a genetic test that analyses the danger of a tumour. Cancer doctors said the findings would change practice in UK clinics on Monday, and meant women in this group could be treated safely with just surgery and hormone therapy. Charities said the news, affecting 3,000 UK women a year, was "wonderful". Chemotherapy is often us