NRI- Watch result of eating, drinking, smoking, sex and obesity

Our Health wars- Result of eating, drinking, smoking, sex and obesity

AIR POLLUTION:

Men living in areas with polluted air may be more likely to develop lung cancer, say scientists. Their overall risk of lung cancer is relatively small but researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health who looked at more than 16,000 men over almost three decades believe there is clear evidence that those in more polluted areas were more at risk. (BBC Online)

EXHAUST FUMES: After completing tests in Marylebone Road a report has found that walking in big cities is the equivalent of smoking a cigarette every two and a half minutes. Experts say that pollution kills 40,000 Britons a year. (Express)

ASBESTOS:

The 'epidemic' of asbestos-related cancer, which often takes 50 years to claim its victims, will not reach its peak for another decade, say doctors. The authors of an editorial in the British Medical Journal expect the death rate of more than 1,800 a year to top 2,000 between 2015 and 2020.(Guardian)

ANTI PERSPIRANTS:

Dr Darbre has published the results of her ten year long review of the relationship between anti perspirants and breast cancer in the Journal of Applied Toxicology. She claims that compounds of aluminum and zirconium can affect hormone levels and increase the risk of breast cancer. Her claims were dismissed by the cosmetics industry and fellow cancer specialists. Dr Tim Key of Cancer Research UK said breast cancer rates have gone up in Britain because of the increasing prevalence of known risk factors: alcohol, obesity and having children later. (Daily Mail)

ALLERGIES:

A report published in the British Medical Journal has found that the number of people admitted to hospital suffering from allergies has trebled in the last decade. Experts have said that these figures may be just the "tip of the iceberg" because the researchers only examined four allergic reactions that are at "the severe end of the spectrum." (Sun, Telegraph, Times)

ASPIRIN:

Researchers have found a link between regular high doses of aspirin and pancreatic cancer in women. A team at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston found a 58 per cent increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer in women who had taken two tablets of 325mg aspirin a week for 18 years, compared with women who had taken fewer. The report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute said that those who took 14 or more tablets a week for 20 years were 86 per cent more likely to get the cancer. (Daily Telegraph)

ASPIRIN: A study carried out on 88,000 nurses has found that those who took two or more aspirin a week for more than twenty years had a 58 per cent risk of pancreatic cancer. Those who took more than 14 tablets a week were 86 per cent more likely to develop the disease. (Sun)

ASPIRIN: A report published today in the British Medical Journal has said that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (painkillers such as aspirin) before and just after the time of conception almost doubles the chance of miscarriage. The Californian study interviewed 1,055 women and took into account known risk factors. (Daily Mail)

BRUSHING TEETH:

Peter Heasman at Newcastle University's School of Dental Sciences has found that brushing for longer than two minutes and with greater force does not improve oral hygiene and actually increases the risk of damage to teeth and gums. The professor of periodontology studied a dozen volunteers for four weeks. (Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian)

BABY FOOD JARS:

Supermarkets and baby food manufacturers have decided that they will cntinue to sell baby food in air tight jars despite a warning from the Euro

BARBECUES:

Barbecues should carry health warnings for releasing the same amount of toxic smoke as 220,000 cigarettes. Prof Desmond Hammerton, a retired biology professor from Callander, Scotland, said crowding round a barbecue throughout summer could have an effect 'over 10 or 20 years'. (Sun)

BUG IN MILK:

A team of scientists at St George's hospital in London believe that they have found a link between a bug called MAP found in livestock and the debilitating Crohn's disease. They believe that the bug could be transmitted from infected animals to humans through milk. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. (Guardian)

BUDGET AIRLINES:

Passengers flying budget airlines could be putting their lives in the hands of an exhausted pilot working a punishing flight schedule. Dr Simon Bennett of the University of Leicester said, "While stress and fatigue are difficult to measure, and while the pilots' statements were informed by subjective self-assessments, it is clear that further research is required.' (Independent)

CAFFEINE:

A study published in the journal Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemology has found a link between drinking large amounts of coffee and an increase in miscarriage and baring smaller babies. The study looked at 474 women in Reading. (Daily Mail, Daily Express)

CLUBBING:

People who go to clubs are risking early deafness. The volumes that they are subjecting themselves to more damaging than a pneumatic drill. The survey from the charity for the deaf RNID has found that up to three quarters of 18-30 year olds have hearing problems after going to clubs and concerts. Reports of tinnitus have risen three fold since 1980's. Brian Dow from RNID said, 'We need to get to a stage where remembering to take earplugs out with you is as commonplace as remembering safe sex protection'. (Daily Mail)

CHOLESTEROL:

Almost half of all adults are carrying dangerously high levels of cholesterol, the 'hidden killer' which clogs the arteries and causes heart disease. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey, published by the Food Standards Agency, points to poor diet and a lack of exercise as the cause and says the number of men who are clinically obese has tripled in 14 years, up from 8 per cent to 25 per cent. On top of this another 41 per cent of men are classified as overweight. (Daily Mail)

CHLORINE:

The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has published 'alarming' findings that chlorine in swimming pools may be responsible for the marked increase in childhood asthma. The chemical, particularly when mixed with sweat and urine, is thought to damage the sensitive lining that protects lungs from irritants that can trigger asthma.
The research looked at both the long term and short term effects of swimming on the 'epithelium' and both showed that swimming adversely effected this lung lining. Those who had swum most frequently had effectively had this lining stripped away in a similar fashion that is seen in regular smokers. More than 40% of elite swimmers are registered asthmatics. However a spokesman for the National Asthma Campaign urged caution and called for more research before action is taken. (Daily Mail, Times)

HEMICALS:

A report from the EU Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-Food Products says it cannot guarantee the safety of 57 chemicals commonly used in dyes. Dr Ian White, consultant dermatologist at St John's Institute, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London and chairman of the committee said, 'The industry has simply not proved to us that these are safe. There are lots of questions - are the chemicals themselves the problem pr the fact that they are mixed together? We can't wait years for a big surveys to be done. Our job is to protect customers.'

He also said, 'My wife says she would rather dye than have grey hair, and I've heard other women say the same. She continues to use the dye. The fact is that there is a social need for these products but we don't really know the long term risks. Consumers are prepared to accept other risks which are much greater - such as smoking or crossing the road.' (Daily Express)

CAESAREAN:

Having a Caesarean can permanently harm a woman's fertility, say researchers. Professor Deirdre Murphy of Dundee University led a team of researchers who surveyed 283 women three years after having a Caesarian birth or a natural delivery aided by instruments such as forceps. Of these women almost half (140) became pregnant again after three years. Those who had a natural delivery are reported to have found it easier to become pregnant again. Prof Murphy said it was clear there were drawbacks for future pregnancies when the first child was delivered surgically. (Daily Mail)

CHILLI:

A banned red dye that can cause cancer has been found in chilli powder imported from India. Affected products are being taken off the shelves. The manufacturers had been using the chilli powder in chutneys and curry not knowing of the danger. (Mirror)

DOEDORANTS:

A new report suggests a possible link between anti-perspirants and breast cancer. Scientists found chemicals called parabens, used as preservatives in the underarm products, in cancerous breast tumours. Dr Phillippa Darbre, a breast cancer specialist at the University of Reading and lead author of the report, said, 'It's going to be very difficult to ever prove that underarm cosmetics are a cause of breast cancer but this is another piece of the jigsaw that fits.' (Daily Mail)

DRINKING:

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that alcohol related deaths among young men and women have tripled in the last twenty years. Experts say binge drinking is to blame. (Daily Mail)

DRINKING: The governing body for American athletics has warned athletes not to drink water constantly throughout races because of the danger of dizziness, respitory problems, seizures and death. They have advised athletes to respond to rather than try to preempt their thirst and also to drink sports drinks rather than plain water. If in doubt check the colour of your urine - it should be pale yellow not clear. (The Sun)

DRINKING: A survey of 1000 seven to eleven-year-olds has found that only 20% of them drank the recommended minimum amount of water (four to six glasses a day). The survey also found that a quarter of the children drank no water during the school day, 88 per cent said they felt thirsty during lessons, nine per cent said water was their favourite drink and four and a half times this number said fizzy drinks were their favourite. (Daily Express)

DIET:

Giant food portions and snacks such as chocolate bars and crisps are threatening an obesity epidemic and a host of life threatening illnesses. 'Extra weight gain now seems to be fundamentally linked to a range of cancers,' said Professor Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force which works with the World Health Organiation. 'Obesity and diet-induced diseases already rival smoking as one of the major causes of preventable death.' (Daily Mail)

DIET: A third of all pupils in the UK now consume fewer than the recommended three daily servings of dairy foods. In contrast 60 per cent drink one can of soft drink a day and one in five gets through ten cans a week. The result is that a growing number of youngsters are deficient in calcium which is vital for strong bones which has led to fears that the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis could afflict people in later life. (Daily Mail)

DIET: 'Diet causes breast cancer' screamed the Daily Express. High levels of the female hormone oestrogen 'could be' to blame for record rates of breast cancer. According to findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women in western countries such as Britain have abnormally high levels of oestrogen compared with women in poorer countries. Experts believe a rich diet and lack of exercise 'could' explain the difference. (Daily Express)

DRINK AND DRUG BINGES:

A report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction has found that Britain has one of the highest rates of drink and drug consumption among young people in Europe. Britian topped the tables for cannabis, alcohol and amphetamine use. (Independent)

DISHCLOTHS:

A report published in Communicable Diseases and Public Health found almost nine of ten dishcloths used to clean commercial kitchens are riddled with dangerous bacteria. The study looked at 1,500 restaurants, pubs, cafes and sandwich bars. Professor Eunice Taylor of University of Salford said, 'This demonstrates how far we have to go before the public can eat outside their home with the full assurance that what they are consuming will not make them ill.' (Daily Telegraph)

FOOD POISONING:

Figures from the Food Standards Agency show that cases of food poisoning soared by 1.4 million last year. Some 7.6 million were struck down, and latest estimates put the annual death toll at 480. Cheap burger and kebab bars and Indian and Chinese takeaways have been blamed for the 'epidemic'. (Daily Mail)

FARMED SALMON:

People who regularly eat farmed salmon may be raising their risk of developing cancer. A report, published in the journal Science, says that salmon raised on British fish farms are so contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals that consumers would be unwise to eat them more than once every other month.
The analysis of more than 700 fish found that farmed salmon across Europe and North America had much higher concentrations of 14 pollutants than fish caught from the wild. The chemicals belong to a class known as organochlorines which are linked to cancer and birth defects. According to guidelines from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the most polluted salmon came from farms in Scotland, the Farow Islands and Denmark.

The Food Standards Agency, which advises people to eat a portion of oily fish such as salmon each week, has asked experts for advice on the risks and benefits of eating more than this in a lifetime. (The Times)

FLU:

Outbreaks of the potentially deadly Chinese flu have almost doubled in less than a week. Places in north and central England have been worst affected. The Flu Advisory Network predicts that one in six Mancunians will suffer from flu this week. Health authorities have been put on alert. (Daily Mail)

FLU: A three year old girl is feared to be the eighth vicitim of "a deadly flu virus that is sweeping the country". Experts are warning that this flu strain could be the most serious flu outbreak in years. (Daily Mail)

JUNK FOOD:

JUNK FOOD: Eating junk food could harm the memory and may even lead to brain damage. A study carried out at the University of California's Brain Injury Research Centre and published in the journal Neuroscience found that foods laden with sugar and fat appear to reduce levels of a natural brain chemical crucial for learning. People whose diets are high in fat and sugar could unwittingly be harming their minds. (Daily Mail)

JUNK FOOD: Humans are not the only ones at risk from junk food (allegedly). A growing number of household pets, including cats, dogs, rabbits and budgies, are getting dangerously fat because their owners are feeding them junk food. According to The Blue Cross charity, the number of overweight animals has doubled in the last ten years. Fat pets are more likely to die young or suffer from illnesses including breathlessness, diabetes and arthritis and heatstroke. (Daily Express)

MEAT AND FAT: A study published in the British Journal of Cancer has found that women who eat large amounts of meat or fatty foods may be at greater risk of developing breast cancer. The study analysed 45 studies involving 25,000 patients. (Daily Mail, Express, Times)

BINGE DRINKING: A study carried out on rats indicates that teenagers may be damaging their bodies and their brains by binge drinking. Adolescent rats were exposed to high doses of alcohol this caused impaired growth and altered brain function. (Independent)

LONLINESS:

A presentation at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions conference in Florida said that lonely old men are more at risk from a heart attack or stroke. (Express)

LIMMING PILLS:

Scientists have urged people to avoid Metabolife 356, a herbal slimming aid, and similar supplements 'until more information is known about their safety'. Researchers from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in Storrs, USA, studied 15 volunteers who were either given Metabolife or an inactive sugar pill. The study found that Metabolife 356 raised the blood pressure of the volunteers as well as increasing the time intervals between the natural electrical impulses that cause the heart to contract. (Independent)

LIGHT:

A report compiled by the electricity provider Powergen found that few if any children in Britain has ever been exposed to total darkness because of increased use of artificial light in the home. Only 2% of children sleep in complete darkness. Experts believe that perpetual light is harmful to the physical and mental development of children. (Daily Telegraph)

MOBILES:

Australian researchers have found that talking on a mobile phone while walking "constitutes a serious health risk." Chatting on the phone alters breathing patterns which usually protect the spine by cushioning footfall. The study, carried out on treadmill, found that the "activity of the deepest abdominal muscle was reduced by 30-40 per cent during all speech tasks." (Daily Mail)

MOBILE PHONE MASTS:

Plans by BT to erect hundreds of thousands of mini mobile phone masts on street lights, road signs and buildings has enraged opponents who say radiation can cause cancer, brain damage, Alzheimer's disease, loss of memory and sleep disorder. Although there are no scientific studies linking mast radiation to ill health, the consumer group Mast Sanity said, "These masts could be extremely dangerous, as we won't know they are there." (Daily Mail)

MARRIAGE:

Australian researchers have found that brides and grooms both put on an inch in the year after marriage and it can continue for up to ten years. Various explanations have been offered for the swell. (Daily Express)

NIGHT SHIFTS:

Almost half a million women who work night shifts could be at greater risk of breast cancer. Women who watch television late into the night, work night shifts or even sleep with a light on could be at risk because scientists believe that being exposed to too much light at night disrupts crucial hormones, raising the chances of breast tumours by as much as 60 per cent. (Daily Mail)

MISERY:

Feeling miserable? Don't, it's bad for your health! According to American scientists, people with a negative outlook are more likely to fall ill because their bodies have weaker immune systems which are less able to fight off infections. The findings, produced by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are said to offer one of the best explanations yet for a phenomenon that doctors have observed for many years that people with an optimistic, happy-go-lucky approach to life tend to be healthier than those who are always miserable. (Daily Mail, The Times)

MOUTH CANCER:

Scientists at Kings College London have found that smoking and drinking are risk factors in three quarters of all mouth cancers. The team looked at 116 cases of mouth cancer in people under the age of 45 and found that 40% of victims were in the highest social classes. (Daily Mail)

RICKETS: The childhood disease rickets is on the rise in Britain. Nutritionists say it's because a generation of children are not getting enough sunlight and diary products. (Daily Mail)

ATKINS: Researchers at Southampton University have found that the children of mothers who follow a high protein diet, like Atkins, have higher blood pressure and levels of stress when they grow up. More than 250 people aged 28 to 30 whose mothers had followed high protein diets were assessed for stress. (Daily Mail)

OBESITY:

Doctors have warned of a 'terrifying' rise in obesity. Children as young as six are developing breathing problems, irreversible biologicalchanges and type 2 diabetes, a disease previously only seen in overweight, middle-aged adults. A report, published by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Faculty of Public Health, compared their report to a landmark study in 1962 by the Royal College of Physicians which first outlined the health risks associated with smoking. (Independent)

OBESITY: More than 30,000 lives are being lost each year because of weight-related diseases. Highlighting 'the death toll from Britain's worsening obesity crisis', Health Secretary John Reidestimated the cost of obesity to the National Health Service at £500 million a year. (Daily Mail)

OBESITY: Children as young as three are showing signs of obesity which will condemn them to a life of ill health. A £100,000 study published in The Lancet reveals that some toddlers are physically active for just 20 minutes a day while most youngsters do not move at all for 80 per cent of the day. Researchers claim that Britain is 'heading for an epidemic of obesity' because of poor diets and sedentary lifestyles. The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, who has warned that children may 'die before their parents' because of the effects of junk food and lack of exercise, is due shortly to issue a report calling for drastic action. (Daily Mail)

OBESITY/ALCOHOL/SEX: The next generation of adults is likely to be the fattest, most mentally disturbed and least fertile in history, doctors have warned. According to the British Medical Association, teenagers who gorge on fast food, binge on alcohol and drugs, and indulge in promiscuous sex represent a public-health tme bomb that could overwhelm the NHS. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the BMA, said teenagers' behaviour posed 'an extraordinary threat to an entire generation'. She added, 'It is also a threat to all of us ... We can't expect young people to think that far into the future. We have to do some of the thinking for them.' (Independent)

OBESITY: Research from a fertility clinic in the United States has found that men who are overweight or obese produce dramatically lower numbers of strong swimming sperm. Researchers compared the body mass index and sperm count of 52 men. The overweight men were almost infertile and the obese men would really struggle with a very low sperm count. (Times, Independent)

OBESITY: Researchers at Gothenburg University in Sweden studied almost 400 patients (two thirds of whom were women) for 18 years and found that overweight women were 30% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. (Daily Mail)

OBESITY: The Chairman of the Food Standards Agency Sir John Krebs has said that obesity has become one of the nation's most pressing issue, calling it a "public health timebomb". In an interview in a Sunday newspaper he called for action on child nutrition saying, "Doing nothing is not an option."
Kreb predicts that life expectancy will fall for the first time in 100 years if nothing is done. The agency predicts that obesity will cost the nation £3.6 billion by the year 2010. AT present 54,000 people die a year from weight-related illness. They recommend reducing salt and sugar in children's food, stopping vending machines selling sugary snacks in schools, restricting advertising and putting compulsory health warnings on some products. The government is holding a 'salt summit' tomorrow to demand action from food companies. (Times, Sun, Express)

OBESITY: Figures released today show that one in ten six year olds and one in five fifteen years olds are obese. These children are at an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer later in life. Professor Mike Kelly, the Director of the Health Development Agency, said that we live in an 'obesogenic' environment because of the dominance of fast food and the couch potato culture. (Daily Mail, The Times, Daily Telegraph)

OBESITY: More than 50 per cent of schoolchildren are threatened by an obsesity 'timebomb' because parents pack their lunch boxes with fatty and sugary food. The Food Standards Agency found that nine out of ten primary school pupils who bring packed lunches are eating a diet dangerously high in fats, sugar and salt. Sandwiches, crisps and chocolate dominate their diet while fewer than half of those surveyed were given even a single piece of fruit. (Daily Mail)

OBESITY: Researchers at Gothenburg University in Sweden studied almost 400 patients (two thirds of whom were women) for 18 years and found that overweight women were 30% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. (Daily Mail)

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Travellers on all forms of public transport are at risk from potentially fatal blood clots triggered by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Latest research published by G d'Annunzio University in Italy says people in cramped conditions in cars, buses and trains could be just as much at risk of suffering health problems as airline travellers. Recent research by Australian doctors showed long-haul airline passengers are four times more likely to develop DVT after their flight. The fortnight after landing carries the greatest risk. (Daily Mail)

REFRIGERATORS:

The arrival of domestic refrigerators could be responsible for a dramatic rise in the numbers suffering from a painful bowel disease over the last 50 years. According to Dr Jean-Pierre Hugot, who led the research in Paris, bacteria commonly found in beef, pork, chicken, cheese and lectuce may be to blame for Crohn's disease. Some of these bugs can survive and multiply in cold temperatures, contrary to the popular belief thaty fridges kill harmful bacteria. (Daily Mail)

pean Food Safety Authority. A toxin has been found in the plastic lid seals that can damage DNA. (Times, Daily Mail)

SHORT HAUL FLIGHTS:

Deep vein thrombosis can develop on even short flights a study has claimed. Leading the study Professor Gianni Belcaro said, 'Our research suggests most blood clots develop in the first two or three hours of a journey and grow larger and more dangerous with time.' (Times, Sun)

STRESS:

A Sweedish GP has told the European Cancer Conference in Copenhagan that stress can double a woman's risk of breast cancer. Dr Osten Helegesson studied the stress levels of 1,462 women for 24 years. However, she empahsised that it was a small study that identified an association so that more research is required to confirm stress as a cause of breast cancer. (Daily Mail)

SKIPPING BREAKFAST:

A study published in the journal Appetite has found that children who have just a glucose drink for breakfast have the reaction times of a seventy year old by mid morning. For the study children were given a glucose drink, cereal or nothing at all and then performed memory and attention tests later in the morning. (Express)

SHAMPOO:

The Medical Research Council's human reproductive sciences unit has suggested that phthalates - a common chemical found in 'everything from shampoo to plastics' - could be the cause of increasing rates of genital abnormalities and testicular cancer in males. Professor Richard Sharpe, senior MRC research scientist said that when a baby is exposed to the chemical in the womb via the mother the effects can last a lifetime. The study lasted two years and was conducted on rats. (Daily Mail)

SMOKING:

Elderly people who smoke lose their mental faculties up to five times faster than non-smokers. A study of almost 10,000 pensioners from Britain, Denmark, France and the Netherlands found that smoking habits have an impact on cognitive function, with past or present smokers suffering a markedly faster mental decline. Greater cognitive decline occurred with higher cigarettepack-year exposure, a calculation involving the number of years someone has smoked and the reported average daily number of cigarettes. Alewijn, lead author based at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, said, "More in-depth studies are needed to verify if these or other factors are responsible for greater cognitive decline in smokers."

RT: Research by the US Women's Health Initiative shows that hormone replacement therapy produces a 'significantly' greater risk of stroke and a possibly higher chance of developing dementia. Doctors say the 'lifestyle drug' should now be used only for short-term relief of symptoms of the menopause such as hot fluishes, night sweats, mood swings and fatigue.

SMOKING: Smoking causes up to 5,000 miscarriages and 1,200 cases of cervical cancer every year, according to a new report published by the British Medical Association. Smoking also reduces fertility, makes 120,000 men impotent and increases the risks of childhood cancer. Babies born to smokers are also at greater risk of a range of diseases in later life, such as heart problems, diabetes and asthma. (Daily Telegraph)

SMOKING: Women who smoke are more likely to go through an early menopause. Researchers from the Civitanova Marche General Hospital in Italy, who studied 350 women between 1996 and 2001, say that female smokers experience the change of life more than two years earlier than non-smokers. They are also damaging their ovaries and affecting their fertility. (Daily Mail)

SMOKING: Women who smoke during pregnancy threaten the fertility of their sons, a report warns. Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark found that boys exposed to tobacco while in the womb have a 25 per cent lower sperm count when they grow up than those born to non-smokers. (Daily Mail)

SMOKING: A scientist in Norway has found that smokers are at greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The study followed 22,312 people and found that smokers in their forties were almost twice as likely as non smokers to develop the auto-immune disease later in life. (Independent)

SMOKING: Research published in the journal Pediatrics has found that women who smoked as few as six or seven cigarettes per day during pregnancy gave birth to babies that were more 'jittery, excitable, stiffer and more difficult to console than newborns of non smokers'.
The report also found that the more cigarettes smoked by the mother the more pronounced these characteristics were. These behavioural changes are allegedly similar to those found in new born children of women who use crack cocaine or heroin while pregnant. The researchers say that the results suggest that babies go through a 'nicotine withdrawal' similar to that of babies born to addicts of hard drugs.

However experts say that the study, which focused on 27 babies that were exposed to smoke and 29 who were not, is not enough to draw firm conclusions and more research is required. Professor David Edwards, a neonatologist at Imperial College, London, said there was no evidence to equate the effect of tobacco exposure with that of crack cocaine which constricts the blood vessels and can cause babies to suffer a stroke. (BBC Online)

SMOKING: Smoking plays a larger role in the development of breast cancer than was previously believed, according to a study of 116,000 American women. It found that those who smoked had a 30 per cent higher chance of developing the disease. The study contradicts British research last year which concluded smoking had no effect on the risk of breast cancer. More than 40,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year and around 13,000 die from it. (The Times/ Daily Mail)

SEX:

Oral sex can lead to oral tumours. Researchers, working for the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, compared 1670 patients who had oral cancer with 1732 healthy volunteers. The risk, however, is tiny. Only around 1 in 10,000 people develop oral tumours each year, and most cases are probably caused by two other popular recreational pursuits: smoking and drinking. The researchers are not recommending any changes in behaviour.

SEX: A survey of British sexual habits has found that one in two women and one in three men have persistent sexual problems. The most common was lack of desire for more than six months. (Daily Mail)

SEX: A study from the University of Tromso in Norway has found that women who have been taking the second generation contraceptive pill for more than three years increase their risk of breast cancer by 45 per cent. The study looked at 100,000 aged 30 to 70 for eight years. However, experts are treating the results with caution. Dr Kate Law, director of clinical trials for Cancer Research UK said, 'Although it indicates there might be a trend, there really aren't enough people in the study who developed cancer to produce meaningful figures.'

SEX: MPs have said that a huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases is not being dealt with because of lack of resources available. The Commons Health Select Committee criticized the Department of Health for failing to provide sufficient services and schools for failing to educate young people about sexual health. Sandra Gidley, Lib Dem member of the committee said, 'People are dying through ignorance and the Government must take a large part of the blame.' (The Times)

SEX: MPs have said that a huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases is not being dealt with because of lack of resources available. The Commons Health Select Committee criticized the Department of Health for failing to provide sufficient services and schools for failing to educate young people about sexual health. Sandra Gidley, Lib Dem member of the committee said, 'People are dying through ignorance and the Government must take a large part of the blame.' (The Times)

SMOG:

The current heat wave has turned 'toxic' with record levels of smog and pollution over the country. The air has been turned into a potentially dangerous mix of ozone and other noxious gases. Experts are predicting that hospital admissions for respiratory problems will rise as a result. (Times, Daily Mail, Telegraph)

SUNSCREEN:

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute has published a report saying that suncreens encourage sun bathers to stay in the sun longer and thus actually increase the risk of skin cancer. (Independent)

SOFT DRINKS

A single can of Coca-Cola is equal to three-and-a-half Kojak-style lollipops or one-and-a-quarter packs of Rowntree's Fruit Gums while a 500ml bottle of ready-to-drink Ribena is the same as seven lollipops or more than three-and-a-half packs of Chewits. According to the Food Commission, "Soft drinks do more than quench thirst - they add hugely to a child's daily sugar intake." (Daily Mail)

TRANS FATS:

The Consumers Association has said that deaths from heart disease could be cut by a quater if supermarkets did more to tackle the problem of 'trans fats' in food. A 'trans fat' is made by mixing hydrogen with vegetable oils. (Daily Express)

SALT:

A diet full of very salty foods doubles the risk of developing stomach cancer. A study of 40,000 men and women in Japan, where salty food is popular and stomach cancer is the commonest form of the disease, found that those who ate the most salt were twice as likely to develop the disease. (The Times)

SALT: The Food Standards Agency says that children are unknowingly consuming large amounts of salt in processed foods and staples such as bread and cornflakes. The FSA has called on food manufacturers to help reduce the risk to the population of high blood pressure by reducing the salt levels in their food. Food companies day they are responding to taste demands from consumers. (Daily Mail)

TELEVISION:

Young children risk being 'damaged' by the excessively confrontational and sexual content of daytime television. Children's broadcasters, including Johnny Ball, Toni Arthur and Susan Stranks, say they are concerned that the depiction of warring adults and emotional trauma on programmes such as ITV's Trisha and Channel 4's The Salon could turn children into disturbed, self-obsessed adults with no understanding of happiness.

Meanwhile a poll by the charity I CAN, which helps children with speech difficulties, showed that 96 per cent of nursery staff had at least one child with 'communication difficulties' in their care. Of those, 92 per cent blamed the lack of conversation between adults and children. More than three quarters if nursery staff said television was a major factor.
Sources: Sunday Telegraph. Daily Mail

TIES:

Tightly knotted ties can increase the risk of glaucoma, an eye condition that is often hereditary and can cause blindness. Researchers at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary tested 20 healthy men and 20 men with glaucoma and found that 60 per cent of the men with glaucoma and 70 per cent of the healthy men experienced an increase in internal eye blood pressure after wearing a tight tie for just three minutes. The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, also highlighted the problems of wearing a tie when going for an eye test where there was a risk it could lead to a false diagnosis of glaucoma. (Independent)

VEGETARIANS

A study conducted over 13 years by Oxford University concluded that vegetarians were 40 per cent less likely to suffer from certain cancers. are also 50 per cent less likely to suffer from gall stones and less likely to suffer from diet-related diabetes.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS:

A Government watchdog has reported to day that people should exercise caution when taking vitamins and minerals. The Food Standards Agency said most people get all the nutrients they need from a balanced diet without taking such supplements. They warned that some vitamins and minerals taken long term can cause harm. In particular the Expert Group recommended a ban on chromium picolinate supplements because they have the potential to cause cancer. Others supplements they issued strong warnings on because they are thought to have irreversible effects are beta carotene, nicotinic acid, zinc, manganese, phosphorus and vitamin B6. They also urged people to cut down on Vitamin C, calcium and iron because of temporary side effects. (Daily Mail)

WEIGHT:

A study presented at an Ergonomics Society conference has found that children aged 11 to 13 are 10 to 12 per cent heavier than thirty years ago. Overall it was found that the average weight of boys had increased by 6 per cent and girls by 7.5 per cent. (Daily Mail)

WORK:

The Health of the Nation Index, compiled from a panal of 265 GPs who look at trends within their own practices on a regular basis, has identified an increase in work related stress. Two-thirds of GPs claim that the pressures of work is now the reason for a growing number of medical problems. (Express)

HOUSEWORK: Spanish researchers have found that women who work as domestic cleaners are much more likely to develop asthma and suffer from bronchitis. The records of 4,500 women were analysed. Leading the research Dr Zock said, 'What we have found is a statistical link. What we need to do now is find out what specific products are linked to this risk.' (Daily Mail, Telegraph)

WHOOPING COUGH:

A team from the Health Protection Agency have found that whooping cough is still a threat despite high levels of vaccination. The disease often goes undiagnosed and as a result the disease spreads. (Times, Telegraph)

X-RAYS: X-rays used in the detection of diseases and broken bones are responsible for about 700 cases of cancer a year. New research shows that 0.6 per cent of the 124,000 patients found to have cancer each year can attitribute the disease to X-ray exposure. (The Times)