March - 2021

Natural sounds reduce pain, ease stress and boost mood, study suggests

Natural sounds like birds singing or the pitter-patter of rain may have unexpected health benefits, research suggests. Tuesday 23 March marks one year of coronavirus restrictions in the UK. While the "stay at home" regulation has prevented Britons from travelling to far-flung destinations, many have enjoyed getting back to nature, spending more time in their garden and local parks. All this time outdoors may have done us some good, with US scientists linking so-called "natura

Don't delay mammogram after coronavirus vaccine, urges charity

Breast Cancer Now has stressed women should not delay routine mammograms after their coronavirus vaccine. Temporary swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit area, which contains breast tissue, is a relatively common side effect of any jab. This is due to immune cells gathering in the glands, which also occurs while naturally fighting off an infection. In early February 2021, medics from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania reported the US' approved vaccines – just

Twins peak with more born than ever before

More twins are being born than ever before but the world may now have reached peak twin, researchers say. About 1.6 million twins are born each year worldwide, with one in every 42 children born a twin. Delayed childbearing and medical techniques such as IVF have seen the rate of twin births rise by a third since the 1980s. But it could be all downhill from here as the focus shifts to one baby per pregnancy, which is less risky. According to a global overview in the journal H

Gut bacteria influence how long we live, study suggests

Gut bacteria may drive a person's life expectancy, research suggests. The micro-organisms in the gastrointestinal tract do far more than just digest food, with studies implying they help control a person's weight, regulate mood and even communicate with the immune system. With the microbiome's role in ageing being less clear, scientists from the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle analysed 9,000 people, aged 18 to 101. They observed a "microbial drift towards a unique co

Five-a-day should be two fruits and three vegetables to maximise life expectancy, study suggests

Britons have long been encouraged to get their "five-a-day", with a daily intake of numerous fruits and vegetables being linked to a lower risk of disease and early death. Exactly what an individual consumes within this target is up to them, with fresh, canned, frozen and dried produce all contributing to a healthy and balanced diet. After analysing more than 2 million adults worldwide, Harvard scientists reported that our five-a-day should be made up of two fruits and three