"The benefits of statins are hugely underestimated and far outweigh any harm," the Daily Mail reports. A major review also argues that the risks of statins have been exaggerated by both the media and some sections of the medical profession. The review in question explored a variety of evidence to weigh up the benefits and
"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 cancer and cardiovascular disease, as
"Air pollution particles linked to Alzheimer’s found in human brain," Sky News reports after new research found tiny particles of magnetite a potentially toxic by-product of traffic pollution in samples of brain tissue. The samples, obtained after death, were taken from 29 people from Mexico City and eight people from Manchester. Magnetite is
“Zika: Two billion at risk in Africa and Asia,” BBC News reports. A new modelling study suggests the virus could spread, via air travel, to Asia and Africa. Zika virus disease is mainly spread by mosquitoes. For most people it is a mild infection and isn’t harmful. However, it may be more serious for pregnant women,
"A revolutionary drug that could stop people from ever developing Alzheimer’s disease has been unveiled," the Daily Mail reports. The drug, aducanumab, encourages the immune system to attack the abnormal plaques of protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease. However, the reporting on this story should be treated with caution because the study it’s based on was not
"Alcoholics are missing ‘vital chemical in their brain’ that helps control addiction," the Daily Express reports. Research carried out on rats suggests that low levels of the PRDM2 enzyme could trigger self-destructive addictive behaviour associated with alcohol dependency; leading people to continue to drink even though it is causing them physical and mental stress. The studies showed
BBC News reports a "third [of people] given wrong initial heart attack diagnosis", while The Sun makes the totally unsupported claim that "Doctors miss heart attacks in women ‘because they expect victims to be fat, middle-aged men’." These headlines are based on a study that analysed a database containing information about nearly 600,000 people in
"Young girls exposed to electronic babies ? designed to simulate the real experience of having a baby and discourage teenage pregnancy ? were more likely to get pregnant," The Guardian reports. "Infant simulators" ? dolls that mimic the need of a baby in terms of feeding and nappy changing through crying ? are meant to
"Experts have linked eight more cancers to being overweight or obese, nearly tripling the list from five to 13," the Daily Mail reports. This is the latest finding of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a group of cancer experts from around the world that look at risk factors for cancer. What is the
"Why your commute is killing you: stressful rush-hour journeys are shortening commuters’ lifespans," The Sun reports after the Royal Society for Public Health published a report arguing that commuting can negatively impact both physical and mental health. The report highlights research that suggests non-active commuting ? not walking or cycling to work ? is detrimental
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